'83 Euro 733i - Opinions

[Elliott]

Posted in wrong forum originally...
Looking around at cars for the wife and found this on the 'bay. Still learning about the older BMW's through my ownership of my 535i but not familiar with the 7-series. Looking for some opinions, criticisms, advice concerning this one that's really caught my eye.
Thanks guys.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/271320214746?ss ... 1438.l2649

[T_C_D]

Seems like a nice car if the HVAC works and you can get past the color.

[mooseheadm5]

No, you had it in the correct forum originally.

[Greg E34]

Has manual HVAC so that's a plus.

[davintosh]

The e23s are very similar to e28s, so what you've learned with your 535 would apply here too. The interior on this one looks very nice; redone maybe? Seems to me it's got a later engine in it though; B34? I don't have any personal experience with e23s, but the ones I've seen sport a different intake manifold than this one has.

[Mike W.]

Engine looks correct to me, awfully hard to tell the difference between a B32 and a B34 from here though. It is significant though, a euro -33 is going to have about a dozen more HP than a US B34. I've had a couple, not euros, and mechanically they're similar to E28s, but with a solid front end and a fragile HVAC system. Even if it's manual it will still have the vacuum actuators I believe, which are what I had trouble with. Later wheels missing the correct caps and a MB one on the rear. That's minor detail stuff though and shouldn't really play a part.

If you are in California don't even think about buying it if it doesn't have a BAR sticker on it.

[Blue Shadow]

Wow that is one poverty specification 733*. But the VIN returns a 735i so this will be the dirty motor unless that has been changed. Build date 4-May-83 for those that need to figure out the motor.

ABS
heated door locks and mirrors with power
model number delete
green glass
electric sunroof.

And it has a Nutria cloth interior. The 735 appperantly came with the wood in the dash and doors.

* I believe the use of the 733 moniker was because the 735 was not available in the US in 83 so the 733 has been associated with the car for years. With number delete option from the factory it confuses the stupid Americans even more.

[Greg E34]

Almost as low option as my 745i. I do have armrests though.

[Elliott]

Thanks for the comments....I'm from Cali but in MD now and it would be registered as historic, so no inspection, etc. I like the less bells n whistles and the cloth interior. I've shot a bunch of questions out to the seller and I'll post what or if he answers. I got a brother in Sacramento who may take a look at it for me...I may have to pay him off tho. This would just be a DD for the wife, she usually doesn't wander outside a 5 mile radius around the house with work and shopping and she likes it as well.

[T_C_D]

I wish you hadn't posted it here.

[Blue Shadow]

I wish you hadn't posted it here.

Oh no a bidding war for an E23, really?

[T_C_D]

I wish you hadn't posted it here.

Oh no a bidding war for an E23, really?

Can't be much of a war when the BIN is $2450. If it was semi local I would have purchased it already.

[Greg E34]

I like the less bells n whistles and the cloth interior. I've shot a bunch of questions out to the seller and I'll post what or if he answers.

I feel the same way and was so excited when I had the opportunity to purchase my "poverty" 745i. The buffalo interiors are cool, but I love the simplicity of my car. I look forward to seeing what you hear from the seller.

[T_C_D]

I found the name of the dealer in his feedback and googled the business. Found the tel#. Called. Disconnected. Doesn't inspire confidence.

[garageboy]

My impressions...

It is a 30-year-old car. When I saw that photo of the trunk, I thought to myself... there's one of two experiences one feels when sitting in a car this old - either you feel like the owner hovered over the seats for 30 years and never ever had open food in the car... or you feel like you put on somebody else's dirty underwear. On your skin. Itchy.

I dunno if it was all the armor-all he sprayed on the tires and his garage floor... or the armor-all he sprayed in other places... on the other hand, the paint looks good and the interior generally looks quite good. That trunk photo tells a very different story. Something doesn't add up. Water damage? Mildew? Mold? Wet carpet? Smell? I dunno. Something is setting off the alarm in my head.

Sorry to be so vague. Just check it out real well with a person with a good sense of smell.

On the other hand, that's a pretty white British Lawn Ornament behind it.

[a]

Neat looking car. I am quite well car-red at the moment, But if this deal was local , I'd be all over it. I knew what the color was before I took a look. If the car is any good you wont care about the color. 2450 is chump change for any runner, but figure it will need sorting. Maybe the dollar equivalent of 2K euros. Would the trans be a plain vanilla 4 HP22 or an EH ?

Bronzite Beige is an acquired taste. Whilst I would prefer green or anything but red and brown , I dont hate BB

English lawn ornament , that's a good one.

[Jeremy]

Would the trans be a plain vanilla 4 HP22 or an EH?

The e23 didn't get the 4hp22 until the 84MY in the US, but that car appears to have a 4-speed shift plate next to the lever. Non-eh, I'm not sure when those were fitted to the e23.

[Mike W.]

Would the trans be a plain vanilla 4 HP22 or an EH?

The e23 didn't get the 4hp22 until the 84MY in the US, but that car appears to have a 4-speed shift plate next to the lever. Non-eh, I'm not sure when those were fitted to the e23.

Euros did get 4HPs a year or two earlier than the US. The 83 735 I pulled a euro engine out of had a 4HP and Realoem reflects it too.

[a]

Car looks half way decent. From 3000 miles away. Any documentation would be a plus

[T_C_D]

Car looks half way decent. From 3000 miles away. Any documentation would be a plus

I have communicated with the seller. I asked for some pics of the exhaust since it had a single tip. He replied that all BMWs of this vintage had a single pipe exhaust.

I doubt any information is forth coming. A buyer has to assume the worst and hope for better.

[Kenny Blankenship]

Would the trans be a plain vanilla 4 HP22 or an EH?

The e23 didn't get the 4hp22 until the 84MY in the US, but that car appears to have a 4-speed shift plate next to the lever. Non-eh, I'm not sure when those were fitted to the e23.

Jeremy and Mike are correct. For the Euros, I have seen a 4hp22 on a car as early as 1982...

[Elliott]

The sellers response to my questions came back with a call me answer and I've left 2 messages and no contact yet. Probably a pass on my part if he can't return a call to answer some simple questions.

[Tim in N FL]

Has manual HVAC so that's a plus.

Hi Greg,

Wait a second, I'm confused here. I'm not seeing the manual HVAC controls. It looks like vacuum-powered push-button variety with thumb wheel temp adjustment. Am I missing something here?

What style wheels are those? Are the OE BMW or aftermarket?

Looks like a nice find. Is RonP interested in it yet?

Best,
Tim

[T_C_D]

I have a feeling this car is going to reach reserve and then sell for more than the BIN price.

[Greg E34]

Has manual HVAC so that's a plus.

Hi Greg,

Wait a second, I'm confused here. I'm not seeing the manual HVAC controls. It looks like vacuum-powered push-button variety with thumb wheel temp adjustment. Am I missing something here?

What style wheels are those? Are the OE BMW or aftermarket?

Looks like a nice find. Is RonP interested in it yet?

Best,
Tim

Semi automatic might be a better description as it's not completely manual. It's still push button controlled, but not as automatic as the automatic HVAC fitted to the US cars.

It may or may not be as problematic as the automatic HVAC, but in my experience it's been less troublesome.

This is the setup in my 745i:



This is in my 733i:

[wkohler]

The thing about manual HVAC is that it might well be awesome but it still all vacuumy and all of the pods are different except for the recirc pods.

[T_C_D]

I have lost my enthusiasm for this car. It's a very cool car, perfectly suited for my townie turbo car but the Bronzit is just awful. I already have one 80s BMW in a bad color. Don't need two.

[Greg E34]

I know how you feel Todd. I passed on an otherwise very nice 745i because it was Bronzit. Glad I held out.

[Mike W.]

The thing about manual HVAC is that it might well be awesome but it still all vacuumy and all of the pods are different except for the recirc pods.

Truth. On my two US spec E23s the only problems I had were a bad fan motor and the vacuum motors. If I had it to do over I would just buy all new ones and do it all at once.

[M. Holtmeier]

You just have to feel sorry for those butterface bronzits.